Nicole Kinning

4 days ago | kansascitymag.com | Nicole Kinning

Smack dab between Emanuel Cleaver II and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards in Brush Creek, a tall and striking metallic form rises above the bushes. At first glance, it almost looks like Pac-Man going in for the chomp. This sculpture, known as Cantilever Drum, sits boldly on the island of Lake of the Enshriners. But it hasn’t always been there. The sculpture is known for its restless journey around the city, and it all began with a showcase to display local students’ art.

3 weeks ago | kansascitymag.com | Nicole Kinning

The suburbs werenever part of Lauren and Dan Nguyen’s plan. Inspired by the row houses in Chicago, the couple envisioned a forever home that would maximize urban living on a city lot without sacrificing space for their young family. Dan’s love of mid-century modern design and Lauren’s desire for craftsman style influenced the result: a sleek, multi-level home that met their needs on a smaller footprint.

4 weeks ago | kansascitymag.com | Nicole Kinning

Kansas City’s most notable historic home style takes after a piece of clothing—and if you look closely, the resemblance is hard to miss. The shirtwaist house, like its namesake blouse that was popular among the growing number of working women in the early 1900s, is all about structure. A solid limestone or brick first floor serves as a sturdy “waist” while wood or stucco upper stories resemble the blouse’s lightweight top.

1 month ago | kansascitymag.com | Nicole Kinning

Gone are the days of dimly lit quiet spaces with dusty stacks and heavy wood tables. The Mid-Continent Public Library’s North Oak Branch is a perfect example of how libraries have transformed into vibrant, multifunctional community hubs. “North Oak is unique in that it is our only split-level branch,” says Megan Penland of Helix Design and Architecture. “That was really driven by our site constraints.

Nov 4, 2024 | kansascitymag.com | Nicole Kinning

When Jorge Rivera first opened his cloud kitchen, Primos, he sourced ingredients from his grandmother in Puerto Rico. Rivera, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico until he was 10, moved first to Florida and later to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he served as a military police officer. “One of the first things I did when I moved to Kansas was look for Puerto Rican restaurants,” he says. One of his favorites was KCK’s now-closed Caribe Blue.